Tribal people in eastern Indian states along with those in Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan will observe Hassa-Bhasa Vijay Diwas on December 22.

Former MP of Mayurbhanj (in Odisha) Salkhan Murmu, who is also the national president of Adivasi Sengel Abhiyan, on Saturday made an announcement about the tribal fraternity observing the day.

“Very few tribals, especially the new generation, are aware of the importance of December 22 for the Santhals and this is the reason we have decided to observe the day as Hassa (motherland in Santhal language) Bhasa (language) Vijay (victory) Diwas. We have held virtual meetings with our counterparts in Odisha, Assam, Bihar and Bengal apart from Jharkhand.

“There have been meetings with tribal members residing in Jhapa, Biratnagar and Morong districts of Nepal, areas in Bhutan bordering Baksa district of Assam and in Dinajpur districts in Bangladesh who have agreed to observe the day on December 22,” said Murmu, who stays in Kadma in Jamshedpur.

The Adivasi Sengel Abhiyan, which was founded by Murmu, has printed pamphlets on the importance of Hassa Bhasa Vijay Diwas.

“The day holds special significance as on December 22, 1855, the British gave independence to the Santhals through the enactment of Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act after around 10,000 tribals led by Sidho Murmu rebelled against the British in Bhognadih (in present-day Sahibganj district of Jharkhand)
in June 1855. The British were forced to liberate the Santhal Parganas after the rebellion, nearly 100 years before formal Independence in 1947. However, our tribal youths are not aware of this,” Murmu said.

The day is also important for the Santhal language. “On December 22, 2003, the Santhali language got national recognition in the Lok Sabha and was included in the eighth schedule of the Constitution. This feat is significant as most of the tribal languages of India are on the verge of extinction. This has been possible due to the struggle and cooperation of several organisations and language lovers under the leadership of Santhali Bhasha Morcha,” said Murmu, who is also associated with the Santhali Bhasa Morcha.

Tribal outfits will organise dance and song competitions and felicitate tribal leaders on the occasion.

The tribal leader will also write to President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging them to declare December 22 as a national holiday and accord Santhal Hul of 1855 the status of the first war of independence instead of the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857.

“I will also write to the United Nations to observe the day as the Mother language day,” Murmu said.